Political Asylum Vocabulary
Iranian asylum cases involve highly specific political terminology — moharebeh (محاربه / enmity against God), efsad-e fel-arz (افساد فیالارض / corruption on earth), ta'zir (تعزیر / discretionary punishment), and tadbirhaye enzebaati (disciplinary measures). Our interpreters convey these legal-religious concepts accurately to immigration judges who have no frame of reference for Iran's hybrid theocratic-civil legal system.
Farsi vs. Dari Distinction
Iranian Farsi and Afghan Dari share Persian roots but differ significantly in vocabulary, pronunciation, and administrative terminology. "دانشگاه" (daneshgah) in Iran vs. "پوهنتون" (pohantun) in Afghanistan for "university" is just one example. Assigning a Dari interpreter to an Iranian case — or vice versa — creates confusion and legal risk. Our team strictly matches interpreters to the client's specific variety.
Ta'arof & Cultural Communication
Persian communication is layered with ta'arof (تعارف) — an elaborate politeness system where speakers routinely minimize their own claims and deflect credit. An untrained interpreter may over-translate or under-translate these cultural registers, making an asylum seeker sound evasive or dishonest when they are simply following deep cultural norms of humility.
Sanctions & OFAC Context
Many Iranian immigration and business cases involve U.S. sanctions against Iran. Interpreters must understand OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) terminology, SDN (Specially Designated Nationals) lists, and the compliance vocabulary that arises when Iranian nationals interact with the U.S. financial and legal systems.